"Goodbye old girl..."

Leica Fortis 6 - Bright and powerful.
Oh jeepers. I hate reading these posts. But I don't hate the posts themselves, I do realise they can be cathartic. But for me, they bring back a good few memories, the latest being my black Labrador who died 3 months ago after a long working and playing life. He was the best friend a person could have and the source of many a tale.

Anyway Stalker 1962, given a bit of time, you will remember fondly. And for now, I'm sorry for your loss. Chin up.
 
It’s never easy, but the memories will keep your spirits up! Nothing lasts forever!

We will be saying goodbye to our old lab soon, actually picked him up almost 12 years ago from Norfolk after seeing him advertised on the SD as a FOC pup needing hernia surgery. I think the breeders named him ‘hernie’ as far as I recall 😂

We changed it to Gatsby, and he’s been the best shooting and family dog anyone could wish for. He’s also the first truly gay dog I’ve had 😂 but we love him all the same of course!

Also put my father in the ground recently, and sister will not be long to follow this year from cancer at the early age of 48. It will be a tough 12 months.

But at the end of the day, it’s biology, it’s nature, people and pets come and go, we just have to spend the most time we can with those we love, and enjoy the memories and not let the sadness taint it.
 
A sad day indeed and a choice we all have to make at some time.. I'm afraid people may think me hard but my way I still get the tears and a good deal of Malt down me afterwards. Most of my old and very unwell dogs in the past have always been nervous at the vets so a last walk in the woods is my way of saying goodbye. They are least enjoying themselves when they go and are quite unaware of what happens. 😪
 
Sorry for your loss, there is nothing worse than this,
As we speak we are in the same process,
My Bavarian of the last 11 years is now having heart failure, breaks your heart. He grew up with my kids and watching them grow, as I have to make the decision so now to take my boy for his last walk. Last few snuggles on the sofa and reminiscing of the incredible years we’ve had.
 
Read it last night bubbling like a bairn got my first springer 19 years ago before that had lurchers & terriers the all broke me heart ❤️ terriers wilfull hard lil bastards just want to please them selves 🤷‍♂️ the lurchers loving but kinda free spirits
Now gun dogs take loving to another level. Lost ma old girl 5 years ago had 2 daughters of her now sitting with her granddaughter with 6 beautiful pups keeping the lil bitch penny lil runt reminds me of her grandmother
So the spell has been cast she will also break me heart 12/14 years down the line be in me early 70s then god willing ,
 
Stalker1962 said:
She came into my life a lifetime ago.

She was an English Springer Spaniel, and she was (they all are) beautiful.

She travelled the length and breadth of the country with me; hunting, shooting and fishing.

She saw us through house moves, family marriages, the births of Grandchildren, the loss of loves ones. She saw us through and shared with us, what life is - it's what dogs do.

A few years down the line, and we share our busy lives with her 'Nephew'. He sits here behind his 'Auntie'.


View attachment 345929



She loved the water and by God, she loved to swim, and she loved the beach.

She knew Dornoch very well - she sits here at my left boot.

View attachment 345927

Last year, as quite an elderly lady, we had a decision to make. She would benefit from a significant operation on her neck, but not every Vet. wanted to carry it out. She was elderly, she was getting on, and she may not survive it. One young Vet. said she would do it. It was no small thing.


View attachment 345930

Thanks to the skills of the young Vet., and the strength of this old dog, the 'old girl' made a remarkable recovery. The quality of her life was much enhanced and (even if only for a short while) extended by, almost, a year.



View attachment 345931

I was due in the Outer Hebrides in October, and the decision was made that the 'old girl' was perhaps a wee bit too frail to make the journey. She stayed over with family, and was doted on by the Grandchildren for perhaps the best two weeks of her life.


Tide and tide wait for no man.

It was becoming apparent that that is also true for dogs.

Both my wife and I knew what all dog 'owners' know - the chances are you will outlive them, and that, quite frankly, sucks.

Determined that she should, once again, feel the beach beneath her paws, I drove her to the nearest sandy bit of coast to us, and watched her, for the last time, frolic herself to a standstill.


View attachment 345933

She enjoyed Christmas and New Year - being spoiled rotten, both at home and locally with family - it could not last.

She began to lose strength in her back legs, and early in the year, she began to 'circle'.

She still enjoyed her food and she loved to 'wrestle' with the pup (who was always extraordinarily gentle with the 'old girl') - but my wife and I had taken to exchanging 'knowing' glances. We both knew what we were both thinking, but we neither of us said it out loud.


This Friday morning, my wife told me that the 'old girl' had started to sound 'chesty'. My wife had an appointment in the morning and so I was left in charge.

I too noticed the episodic laboured breathing. The fragility of her gait was becoming significant and (new) mild incontinence when I lifted her outside.

When my wife retuned home, she saw the tears in my eyes and she knew it was time. My wife made the phone call.

"I have spoken to the Vets. and they will see her at 5.30 pm".


I had 90 minutes to sort my life out, and get ready.

I tried and failed to get my contact lenses in. With the tears streaming down my face - no chance.

I put on some 'smart' clothes, and tried to look like a bloke in control. I failed.


I picked up the 'old girl', and sat her on my lap, (she was wearing her green 'dog coat' to keep the chill off), and my wife drove us off on that dreadful last journey.

My wife went into the Vets. and I waited in the car until we could be called to go straight through.

The Vet. (a young girl) was outstanding. She explained everything, was calm, patient and professional - she was also so very human.


She gave the 'old girl' an anaesthetic and within two minutes the 'old girl' fell asleep, with my wife stroking the dog's head and talking to her, and me stroking the dog's flank.

The Vet. and Nurse then came and administered the euthanasia dose. She had explained that even thought this would stop the 'old girl's' heart, there may well be one or two 'breaths' subsequently. It happened exactly as she said it would; and then my darling 'old girl' was in pain free peace.


It is said that a dog gives you the very best years of your life, and the very worst day.

This old girl gave us 14 years, 7 months and 11 days - I hope she enjoyed them as much as we did.



This morning I walked our two remaining dogs.

I put them back in the kennel and came inside to make my breakfast. Two slices of toast, half a grapefruit and a yoghurt. It's the same very day. I am very much a creature of habit.

This morning, the same as every morning for the past 14 years, 7 months and 11 days, I took the lid off the yoghurt and turned to offer it to the 'old girl' to lick.
There was no one there to take it.

Seems I still have some tears left to shed...
Click to expand...

Stalker1962 said:
She came into my life a lifetime ago.

She was an English Springer Spaniel, and she was (they all are) beautiful.

She travelled the length and breadth of the country with me; hunting, shooting and fishing.

She saw us through house moves, family marriages, the births of Grandchildren, the loss of loves ones. She saw us through and shared with us, what life is - it's what dogs do.

A few years down the line, and we share our busy lives with her 'Nephew'. He sits here behind his 'Auntie'.


View attachment 345929



She loved the water and by God, she loved to swim, and she loved the beach.

She knew Dornoch very well - she sits here at my left boot.

View attachment 345927

Last year, as quite an elderly lady, we had a decision to make. She would benefit from a significant operation on her neck, but not every Vet. wanted to carry it out. She was elderly, she was getting on, and she may not survive it. One young Vet. said she would do it. It was no small thing.


View attachment 345930

Thanks to the skills of the young Vet., and the strength of this old dog, the 'old girl' made a remarkable recovery. The quality of her life was much enhanced and (even if only for a short while) extended by, almost, a year.



View attachment 345931

I was due in the Outer Hebrides in October, and the decision was made that the 'old girl' was perhaps a wee bit too frail to make the journey. She stayed over with family, and was doted on by the Grandchildren for perhaps the best two weeks of her life.


Tide and tide wait for no man.

It was becoming apparent that that is also true for dogs.

Both my wife and I knew what all dog 'owners' know - the chances are you will outlive them, and that, quite frankly, sucks.

Determined that she should, once again, feel the beach beneath her paws, I drove her to the nearest sandy bit of coast to us, and watched her, for the last time, frolic herself to a standstill.


View attachment 345933

She enjoyed Christmas and New Year - being spoiled rotten, both at home and locally with family - it could not last.

She began to lose strength in her back legs, and early in the year, she began to 'circle'.

She still enjoyed her food and she loved to 'wrestle' with the pup (who was always extraordinarily gentle with the 'old girl') - but my wife and I had taken to exchanging 'knowing' glances. We both knew what we were both thinking, but we neither of us said it out loud.


This Friday morning, my wife told me that the 'old girl' had started to sound 'chesty'. My wife had an appointment in the morning and so I was left in charge.

I too noticed the episodic laboured breathing. The fragility of her gait was becoming significant and (new) mild incontinence when I lifted her outside.

When my wife retuned home, she saw the tears in my eyes and she knew it was time. My wife made the phone call.

"I have spoken to the Vets. and they will see her at 5.30 pm".


I had 90 minutes to sort my life out, and get ready.

I tried and failed to get my contact lenses in. With the tears streaming down my face - no chance.

I put on some 'smart' clothes, and tried to look like a bloke in control. I failed.


I picked up the 'old girl', and sat her on my lap, (she was wearing her green 'dog coat' to keep the chill off), and my wife drove us off on that dreadful last journey.

My wife went into the Vets. and I waited in the car until we could be called to go straight through.

The Vet. (a young girl) was outstanding. She explained everything, was calm, patient and professional - she was also so very human.


She gave the 'old girl' an anaesthetic and within two minutes the 'old girl' fell asleep, with my wife stroking the dog's head and talking to her, and me stroking the dog's flank.

The Vet. and Nurse then came and administered the euthanasia dose. She had explained that even thought this would stop the 'old girl's' heart, there may well be one or two 'breaths' subsequently. It happened exactly as she said it would; and then my darling 'old girl' was in pain free peace.


It is said that a dog gives you the very best years of your life, and the very worst day.

This old girl gave us 14 years, 7 months and 11 days - I hope she enjoyed them as much as we did.



This morning I walked our two remaining dogs.

I put them back in the kennel and came inside to make my breakfast. Two slices of toast, half a grapefruit and a yoghurt. It's the same very day. I am very much a creature of habit.

This morning, the same as every morning for the past 14 years, 7 months and 11 days, I took the lid off the yoghurt and turned to offer it to the 'old girl' to lick.
There was no one there to take it.

Seems I still have some tears left to shed...
Click to expand...
Nothing more can be said that has already been written by all members who have experienced the loss of dog
Work through the loss but remember how kind and good you were as an owner
Take care and enjoy your other dogs
 
Sorry to hear this, fully understand your pain, nothing cuts me up, except the loss of a loved dog who has spent their lifetime at your side.

They may only be a part of our life, but to them, we are their whole life.

Rest easy old girl 😢
 
Firstly, thank you for taking the trouble to post your comments - most will have experienced this 'unhappy day'.


Just to complete the story.

At my request, my Daughter has this morning, dropped off a bunch of flowers for the Vet., and a box of chocolates for the staff.

It is a small thing, but it does not hurt to remind them of the good they do, and the gratitude that folk like me feel, for the care they give to our 'furry family'.

6bdba678-94f7-4b83-b3c4-cc6d5c9de969.jpg


7cbcbbf6-5491-4b9b-a642-d8621afdf3aa.jpg
 
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